[lg policy] South Africa: NMMU finds a way out for the tongue-tied

[Harold Schiffman]

NMMU finds a way out for the tongue-tied

2009/08/31
Luyolo Mkentane HERALD REPORTER mkentanel at avusa.co.za


NELSON Mandela Metropolitan University plans to embrace a new language
policy to help non-English speakers get ahead. It will print its
school career guidance brochures, posters and banners in Xhosa,
English and Afrikaans after a month-long survey by the Centre for
Teaching, Learning and Media.  The centre’s Thoko Batyi said the
survey was sparked by the low pass and graduation rate of black and
coloured students last year. “We have adopted a multilingual policy
that says all languages should be used to facilitate the understanding
of English in the classroom.”

NMMU has 22000 students, but only 472 answered the questionnaire – 434
wanting to be taught in English, 12 in English and Afrikaans, and 23
in Xhosa. Another 14 wanted to be taught in Afrikaans, and 20 in
English and Xhosa, “but the indication is that students still want to
learn through English”, said Batyi NMMU spokesman Debbie Derry said
career guidance pamphlets for Grade 9 pupils would now be printed in
Xhosa, English and Afrikaans. “Posters and banners will also be
printed in the three official languages. We are also working with
uMhlobo Wenene FM to reach Xhosa- speaking prospective students.” But
the overall feeling was “students want English to be the language of
tuition” as it was a universal language.

http://www.weekendpost.co.za/article.aspx?id=464845
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